St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-28
SENATOR VEST EXPLAINS.
He Never Said Cleveland Would Not
Accept second Term.
How the Story Crept Out and Grew In
Magnitude.

NEW YORK, April Ex-senator George G.
Vest. of Missouri, is in the city. When asked
by reporter to-day whether or not, as had
been alleged, he was the western senator
referred to in the dispatch to the St. Louis
Republican as authority for 4thes statement
that President Cleveland would refuse q Sec
ond term, he said:
No, sir. l never said so. l never said
anything that could reasonably be construed
into any such meaning. Cleveland never
told me he would not accept a denomination
and would soon cause the publication of
letter saying so. He never told my colleague
from Missouri anything of that kind. never
SO reported to the correspondent of the st.
Louis Republican, nor anybody else. For
long time was utterly unable to guess how
such a report started. After strictly cross
examining myself about all had recently
said or done, hit upon an explanation of the
matter and I think it is the true one / was
calling upon President Cleveland not long
ago, when in the course of conversation about
the state of the Democratic party, ne declared
emphatically that the only ambition he had
was to honestly and faithfully administer the
affairs of the government. The people would
elect any Democrat who might be nominated
in 1888. He knew he had been ac-
cused of selfish motives. but he
added, If 1 could consult my own
personal comfort and desires, l would
lay down the Office of president tomorrow
he wonld refuse to be candidate again if
the party desired him TO be renominated
certainly did not get any such impression
from what he said. L regarded his remark to
be simply disclaimer of personal ambition
in the matter. We'll, several weeks after that
talk was with a small company of Demo-
Gratis who were mostly anti-Cleveland men.
They began ID critfcise the president for try
ing to secure his denomination and crafty
personal ambition. Now, I'm pretty hot
Cleveland man myself, and when I heard this
talk got up and declared it utterly without
foundation. How do you know thatY they
inquired. Cleveland positively assured me-
replied, that he had no other ambition in
being president than 10 serve the party and
country. He said if he could feel free to con-
suit his OWE comfort he would lay down the
office of president at once That was all r
said and all 1 have said about the matter. I'm
doubtedly my remark, reported outside, grew
with each repetition until it reached the cor
respondent OF the Republican in the shape in
Which it was given to the world. I have
denied the story frequently to my friends,
and am glad to have \ chance to deny it
publicly, because think the report is likely
10 do cleveland some harm. My relations
with the president are not particularly inti-
mate, but am sure his statement to me ac-
curately expressed his sentiments. He is not
trying to secure a denomination. He has not
made one nomination with that end in view.
His personal tastes are not all congenial
with the life he has to lead as the nations
executive. Yet if the Democratic party
wants him to be its leader next year he will
consider it his duty to accept the task and do
the very best he can. That is his idea, any
way, do the best h e can all 1.-THE time, and, al-
though don't agree with him about a good
many things, and think he might put great
many more Democrats in Office than he has,
am sure he is stronger with the party to-day
than ever before. There is no doubt in my
mind about his denomination and reelection
''What do you think about the chances OF
Gov. Hill?"
''Wen, Gov. Hill may be pretty big man
in New York. but the country knows nothing
whatever about him-never heard of him, in
fact. He is entirely out OF the race